Objective:To investigate clinical characteristics of and genetic variants in the NF1 gene in children with neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) .Methods:Clinical data were collected from 22 children with NF1, who were admitted to the Department of Dermatology, Children's Hospital, Capital Institute of Pediatrics from January 2022 to September 2023, and were analyzed. Next-generation sequencing was performed to detect NF1 mutations in the probands, and the variants were verified in the family members by Sanger sequencing. A homology modeling software was used to predict the three-dimensional protein structure, and analyze the characteristics of gene mutations.Results:Among the 22 children with NF1, there were 14 males and 8 females, and they were aged from 3 months to 12 years at the clinic visit. All the 22 children presented with multiple café-au-lait spots, and their age at onset ranged from birth to 2 years. Nine patients were accompanied by freckles in the axillary or inguinal regions, 2 by cutaneous neurofibromas, 2 by juvenile xanthogranuloma, 2 by learning disabilities, and Lisch nodules of the iris, central precocious puberty and scoliosis occurred in 1 case each; 5 cases showed characteristic manifestations of neurofibroma on brain magnetic resonance imaging. A total of 5 types of NF1 gene variants were identified in the 22 patients, including complete heterozygous deletion of the NF1 gene (1 patient), missense variants (4 patients, one of whom carried 2 types of missense variants), frameshift variants (8 patients), nonsense variants (6 patients), and classical splicing variants (3 patients). Among the 22 variants, 7 were unreported variants, including c.758T>A (p.Val253Glu), c.2360dupC (p.Thr788Asnfs*5), c.5513T>G (p.Leu1838*), c.2774dupT (p.Leu925Phefs*11), c.6894dupT (p.Val2299Cysfs*7), c.6882_6883delCT (p.Phe2295Leufs*10), and c.6448A>T (p.Lys2150*). Of the unreported variants, 6 were frameshift or nonsense variants leading to different degrees of truncated protein expression, and severely affecting protein function; based on the three-dimensional protein structure prediction analysis, it was uncertain if the missense variant c.758T>A (p.Val253Glu) affected protein conformation. In 2 children, the NF1 variants were inherited from their mothers; 1 child carried 2 NF1 missense variants, 1 of which was a spontaneous mutation potentially causing the disease, while the other one with unknown pathogenicity was inherited from the phenotypically normal father; the remaining 19 children all carried spontaneous mutations.Conclusions:Children with NF1 mainly present with multiple café-au-lait spots at the early stage, and some characteristic manifestations such as cutaneous neurofibroma, juvenile xanthogranuloma, and Lisch nodules of the iris can also occur. NF1 gene pathogenic variants are complex and diverse, and 22 variants were identified in this study, enriching the spectrum of NF1 gene variants.

Objective To investigate the predictive value of dynamic diffusion tensor imaging(DTI)in the postoperative efficacy of cervical spondylotic myelopathy(CSM)and to determine whether DTI parameters in different positions can be used as predictors of poor neurological prognosis.Methods A total of 105 CSM patients who underwent cervical spine decompression surgery were included.The modified Japanese Orthopedic Association(mJOA)score was used to assess patients'neurological function before surgery and one year after surgery.Patients were divided into two groups based on the recovery rate:the good prognosis group(recovery rate ≥50％)(44 cases)and the poor prognosis group(recovery rate＜50％)(61 cases).Univariate analysis was performed based on patients'clinical characteristics,imaging features and dynamic DTI parameters.Significant variables were subjected to binary logistic regres-sion analysis to identify risk factors for poor postoperative prognosis in CSM patients.Results Univariate analysis results showed significant differences between the two groups in terms of diabetes,number of compression segments,pre-mJOA score,cross-sectional area of the spinal canal at the narrowest location[Area-N(natu-ral),Area-E(extension),Area-F(flexion)],apparent diffusion coefficient(ADC)(ADC-N,ADC-E,ADC-F)and fractional ani-sotropy(FA)(FA-N,FA-E,FA-F)(P＜0.05).Binary logistic regression analysisrevealed that Area-N[odds ratio(OR)0.226;95％confidence interval(CI)0.069-0.732,P=0.013],FA-N(OR 3.028;95％CI 1.12-8.19,P=0.029),Area-E(OR 0.248;95％CI 0.076-0.814,P=0.021),FA-E(OR 4.793;95％CI 1.737-13.228,P=0.002),Area-F(OR 0.288;95％CI 0.095-0.87,P=0.027),FA-F(OR 2.964;95％CI 1.126-7.801,P=0.028)were independent risk factors for poor prognosis.FA-E had significant predictive value for poor prognosis in CSM patients.Conclusion Dynamic DTI can predict the postoperative outcomes in CSM,and FA-E value can serve as an excellent predictor of poor neurological prognosis.

Objective:To explore the characteristics of SMN1 gene variants and carry out functional verification for two children with Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). Methods:Two male children with complicated SMA diagnosed at the Children′s Hospital Affiliated to Capital Institute of Pediatrics respectively in July 2021 and April 2022 due to delayed or retrograde motor development were selected as the study subjects. Clinical data of the children were collected. Primary culture of skin fibroblasts was carried out, and peripheral blood samples were collected from both children and their parents. Multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification, combined long-range PCR and nested PCR, and Sanger sequencing were carried out to detect the copy number and variants of the SMN1 gene. Absolute quantitative real-time PCR, Western blotting and immunofluorescence were used to determine the transcriptional level of the SMN gene, expression of the SMN protein, and the number of functional SMN protein complexes (gems body), respectively. This study was approved by Medical Ethics Committee of the Children′s Hospital Affiliated to Capital Institute of Pediatrics (Ethics No. SHERLLM2021009). Results:Child 1, a 1-year-old boy, was clinically diagnosed with type 1 SMA. Child 2, a 2-and-a-half-year-old boy, was clinically diagnosed with type 3 SMA. Both children were found to harbor a paternally derived SMN1 deletion and a maternally derived SMN1 gene variant, namely c. 824G>T (p.Gly275Val) and c. 884A>T (p.*295Leu). Compared with the normal controls and carriers, the levels of full-length SMN1 transcripts in their peripheral blood and skin fibroblast cell lines were significantly decreased ( P<0.05), and the levels of SMN protein normalized to that of β-actin, and the numbers of gems bodies in the primary fibroblast cells were also significantly lower ( P<0.05). Based on the guidelines from the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics, both variants were classified as likely pathogenic (PS3+ PM3+ PM5+ PP3; PS3+ PM3+ PM4+ PP3). Following the diagnosis, both children had received nusinersen treatment. Although their motor function was improved, child 1 still died at the age of 2 due to severe pulmonary infection. The walking ability of child 2 was significantly improved, and his prognosis appeared to be good. Conclusion:Two cases of clinically complicated SMA have been confirmed by genetic testing and experimental studies, which has provided a reference for their accurate treatment.

Objective:To explore the distribution of the copy number of survival motor neuron gene 2 ( SMN2) and the transcript level of the full-length SMN2 ( fl-SMN2) transcript level in patients with type 1-3 spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), and to evaluate their influences on disease severity, progression, and prognosis. Methods:It was a retrospective study involving 78 therapy-naive SMA patients with SMN1 gene homozygous deletion who were diagnosed and treated in the Capital Institute of Pediatrics from January 2019 to December 2021.Cross-sectional clinical data, including age at onset, motor milestones, and complications were recorded.They were followed up for monitoring motor function degeneration and survival.The copy number of SMN2 and the transcript level of fl-SMN2 were detected.Differences between groups were compared by the Student′s t-test or One- Way ANOVA or Chi- square test.Kaplan-Meier analysis was used for survival analysis, and Kendall′ s tau- c was performed to assess the correlation of these two biomarkers with SMA phenotypes, age at onset, motor milestones, and survival. Results:Of the 78 SMA patients, there were 17 cases (21.8%) of type 1, 34 cases(43.6%) of type 2, and 27 cases(34.6%) of type 3.Seven cases(41.2%) type 1 SMA patients died, with a median survival time of 11 months, and no deaths were observed in type 2 and type 3 SMA patients.There was a significant difference in the median age at onset among SMA patients with 2, 3, and 4 copies of SMN2 (1.8, 12.0, and 24.0 months, respectively; F=4.943, P=0.01). The mean transcript level of fl-SMN2 in type 1, 2 and 3 SMA patients were 196.25±68.79, 331.21±108.79 and 455.69±122.27, respectively ( F=37.154, P<0.001). The survival rate of SMA with 2 SMN2 copies at 1, 2, and 5 years were 50.5%, 0, and 0, respectively, and their median survival age was 7 months.The survival rate of SMA with 3 and 4 SMN2 copies at 5 years were 97.4% and 100.0%, respectively.Moreover, a negative correlation was observed between the transcript level of fl-SMN2 and phenotype severity ( Kendall′ s tau- c=-0.444, P<0.001), and the transcript level of fl-SMN2 of the survival group was much higher than that of the death group (342.93±125.74 vs.212.14±92.31). More copies of SMN2 and higher transcript level of fl- SMN2 indicated more motor function acquisitions (head control, sitting and walking) ( P<0.001). In addition, there was a significant difference in the transcription level of fl-SMN2 between the undegenerated group and the degenerated group in sitting and standing ( F=5.432, P=0.023 and F=4.315, P=0.047, respectively). Conclusions:Both the copy number of SMN2 and the transcript level of fl-SMN2 are correlated with SMA severity, survival, and motor milestones, serving as valuable biomarkers for evaluating phenotypic severity of SMA.The transcript level of fl-SMN2 s may play an important role in the degeneration of sitting and standing.

OBJECTIVES: Patients with classical type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) require lifelong dependence on exogenous insulin therapy due to pancreatic beta-cell destruction and absolute insulin deficiency. T1DM accounts for about 90% of children with diabetes in China, with a rapid increase in incidence and a younger-age trend. Epidemiological studies have shown that the overall glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) and compliance rate are low in Chinese children with T1DM. Optimal glucose control is the key for diabetes treatment, and maintaining blood glucose within the target range can prevent or delay chronic vascular complications in patients with T1DM. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the glycemic control of children with T1DM from Hunan and Henan Province with flash glucose monitoring system (FGMS), and to explore factors associated with glycemic variability. METHODS: A total of 215 children with T1DM under 14 years old were enrolled continuously in 16 hospitals from August 2017 to August 2020. All subjects wore a FGMS device to collect glucose data. Correlation of HbA1c, duration of diabetes, or glucose scan rates with glycemic variability was analyzed. Glucose variability was compared according to the duration of diabetes, HbA1c, glucose scan rates and insulin schema. RESULTS: HbA1c and duration of diabetes were positively correlated with mean blood glucose, standard deviation of glucose, mean amplitude of glucose excursions (MAGE), and coefficient of variation (CV) of glucose (all P<0.01). The glucose scan rates during FGMS wearing was significantly positively correlated with time in range (TIR) (P=0.001) and negatively correlated with MAGE and mean duration of hypoglycemia (all P<0.01). Children with duration ≤1 year had lower time below range (TBR) and MAGE when compared with those with duration >1 year (all P<0.05). TIR and TBR in patients with HbA1c ≤7.5% were higher (TIR: 65% vs 45%, TBR: 5% vs 4%, P<0.05), MAGE was lower (7.0 mmol/L vs 9.4 mmol/L, P<0.001) than those in HbA1c >7.5% group. Compared to the multiple daily insulin injections group, TIR was higher (60% vs 52%, P=0.006), MAGE was lower (P=0.006) in the continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion group. HbA1c was lower in the high scan rates (≥14 times/d) group (7.4% vs 8.0%, P=0.046), TIR was significantly higher (58% vs 47%, P<0.001), and MAGE was lower (P<0.001) than those in the low scan rate (<14 times/d) group. CONCLUSIONS The overall glycemic control of T1DM patients under 14 years old in Hunan and Henan Province is under a high risk of hypoglycemia and great glycemic variability. Shorter duration of diabetes, targeted HbA1c, higher glucose scan rates, and CSII are associated with less glycemic variability.
Adolescent ; Blood Glucose ; Blood Glucose Self-Monitoring ; Child ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1/drug therapy* ; Glucose ; Glycated Hemoglobin A/analysis* ; Humans ; Hypoglycemia/prevention & control* ; Hypoglycemic Agents/therapeutic use* ; Insulin/therapeutic use*

Objective:To explore application status and development trend of spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) genetic diagnosis technology based on the national rare diseases registry system of China.Method:A total of 200 SMA children registered at the Capital Institute of Pediatrics from July 2016 to December 2018 were included in this retrospective cross-sectional survey. The basic data, clinical subtypes, genotypes, and related genetic testing information of SMA children were obtained by checking SMA registration information, genetic testing reports, and also by telephone follow-up. The patient number and the composition of different genetic diagnosis technologies were analyzed by the stratification of genetic testing at various time. The correlation between the proportion of genetic diagnosis technology and genetic testing time was analyzed with Pearson correlation analysis.Result:There were 3 SMA cases with incomplete data, the remaining 197 SMA cases were included in this study. There were 37 (18.8%), 115 (58.4%) and 45 (22.8%) patients with type Ⅰ, Ⅱ and Ⅲ SMA, respectively. There were 185 cases of SMN1 homozygous deletion (93.9%), and 12 cases with compound heterozygotes (6.1%). Seven SMA-related genetic technologies were used from 2004 to 2017. MLPA accounted for 54.1% (100/185) used approach, followed by PCR-RFLP and first-generation sequencing, which accounted for 22.7% (42/185) and 10.3% (19/185), respectively. Nine, 6, 5 and 4 cases were tested with AS-PCR, qPCR, WES and DHPLC, respectively (2.2%-4.9%). The proportion of MLPA increased gradually since 2010 ( r=0.95, P<0.05), while PCR-RFLP declined gradually since 2004 ( r=-0.99, P<0.05). No correlation was found between technology and testing time for other genetic testing technologies ( P>0.05). The proportion of quantitative genetic technologies (MLPA, qPCR and DHPLC) increased gradually since 2010 ( r=0.94, P<0.05), and qualitative genetic technologies (PCR-RFLP, first-generation sequencing, AS-PCR and WES) decreased gradually since 2004 ( r=-0.94, P<0.05). The duplication detection rates of homozygous deletion and compound heterozygous mutation were 12.4% (23/185) and 41.7% (5/12), respectively (χ 2=5.86, P<0.05). During 2008-2015, the proportion of "the reports of both copy numbers of SMN1 gene and SMN2 gene" increased from 56.8% (21/37) in 2008-2015 to 69.1% (56/81) in 2016-2017. Conclusion:Genetic diagnosis of SMA has gradually developed from qualitative detection technology to quantitative detection technology, such as MLPA and qPCR, in China. In more and more SMA quantitative test reports, quantitative results of SMN2 gene are also provided in addition to quantitative results of SMN1 gene.

Objective:To evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) for stage Ⅰ-Ⅱ non-small cell lung cancer.Methods:Retrospective analysis of patients with early stage lung cancer who received SBRT in Zhejiang Cancer Hospital from 2012 to 2018 was conducted. The Kaplan-Meier method was used for survival analysis. The main endpoints of the study were locoregional control (LRC) and cancer specific survival (CSS).Results:A total of 142 eligible cases were included, with a median BED10100Gy (100-132Gy). The median age was 75.6 years (47.2-89.0 years), among which 75 patients were aged (greater than or equal to 75 years old). The median follow-up time was 31.0 months, for patients< 75 years old and patients ≥ 75 years old. The 5-year LRC were 84.5% and 95.8% respectively, 5-year CSS were 72.4% and 78.6% respectively, for patients< 75 years old and elderly patients. The systemic response was mild during treatment, no grade 4-5 adverse events occurred in all patients. The main acute side effect was radiation pneumonitis (RP) below grade 3. Grade 2 RP appeared in 14 patients (9.9%) after SBRT where grade 3 RP occurred in 2(1.4%). There was no treatment-related mortality in the SBRT group.Conclusions:SBRT is a safe and effective treatment for early primary lung cancer with satisfactory rates of LRC and CSS in 5 years and mild complication, which is similar to previous reports.

Objective:To investigate the coverage rate and the adverse reactions of National Immunization Program vaccines in children with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA).Methods:A cross-sectional retrospective cohort study was carried out from July 2016 to June 2019, 192 children (116 boys and 76 girls) with SMA registered by Capital Institute of Pediatrics and 191 healthy children (115 boys and 76 girls) vaccinated in Chaoyang Olympic Village Community Health Service Center from July 2016 to December 2018 were included. Questionnaire survey was designed to investigate the vaccination coverage rate and associated adverse events. The t-test and χ 2 test were used to compare the difference between SMA patients and healthy children. Results:The coverage rate of age-appropriate immunization in SMA children was 62.0% (119/192) in general, and were 52.2% (12/23), 55.7% (68/122), and 83.0% (39/47) for SMA type 1-3 patients, respectively (χ 2=12.23, P=0.002). The vaccination coverage rates of Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) vaccine, the 3 rd dose of hepatitis B, the 3 rd dose of polio, the 3 rd dose of diphtheria-pertussis-tetanus, the 1 st dose of meningococcal polysaccharide group A, the 1 st dose of measles or measles and rubella vaccine, the 1 st dose of Japanese encephalitis vaccine, hepatitis A, measles-mumps-rubella, and group A+C meningococcal polysaccharide vaccine were 100.0% (192 cases), 94.3% (181 cases), 81.8% (157 cases), 88.5% (170 cases), 83.9% (161 cases), 76.6% (147 cases), 80.2% (154 cases), 68.2% (131 cases), 69.8% (134 cases), 54.7% (105 cases), respectively. Among the 73 patients who did not have their planned immunization completed, 57 cases (78.1%) gave up the vaccination due to parents′ concern of potential aggravation of their disease, and 16 cases (21.9%) had the plan discontinued by the immunization department because of the disease. Fever, local redness and swelling were the most common side-effects after vaccination both in SMA patients and healthy children (19.8% (38/192) vs. 18.8% (36/191) , χ 2=0.055, P=0.815). The main abnormal reactions of vaccination were rash and neurovascular edema, without significant difference between these two groups (2.6% (5/192) vs. 3.7% (7/191), χ 2=0.355, P=0.551). The coverage rate of Influenza and pneumococcal vaccine in SMA patients were 22.4% (43 cases) and 31.8% (61 cases), respectively. The incidence of pneumonia in the SMA patients decreased from 59.0% (23/39) to 41.0% (16/39) after vaccination. And none of the Influenza vaccinated patients had the flu in the year of vaccination. Conclusions:The coverage rate of National Immunization Program vaccines in the SMA children is low, especially in type 1 SMA patients, which is mainly due to their guardians′ concern of potential adverse events, even though the incidence of adverse reactions is similar in SMA patients and healthy children. Influenza and pneumococcal vaccine can reduce the risk of pneumonia and flu in children with SMA effectively.

Objective To observe the clinical effects and safety of sodium valproate combined with decitabine for treatment of myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS). Methods Forty-two patients with MDS were enrolled in department of hematology in Shanxi Dayi Hospital from February 2012 to February 2017. According to random number table, the patients were divided into the control group (21 cases) and the experimental group (21 cases). The patients in the control group received decitabine at the dose of 20 mg·m-2·d-1, and intravenous infusion was completed in 2 hours, continuous therapy up to 5 days, 4 weeks as a course; the patients in the experimental group received combined medication, orally given sodium valproate 0.2 g once, 3 times per day. One week later, the dosage was added to 0.4 g once, 3 times per day. Both groups received at least 4 courses of treatment. The treatment was stopped when serious adverse reactions or obvious disease progression occurred. The bone marrow smear was rechecked every 4 weeks after treatment to evaluate the efficacy. The expressions of ASXL1, DNMT3A and TET2 in bone marrow cells were detected by fluorescence quantitative PCR before and after treatment. Results The total treatment response rate of the experimental group and the control group were 76.2 % (16/21) and 57.1 % (12/21) respectively, and there was statistically significant difference (P< 0.05); the total remission rate of the two groups was 47.6 % (10/21) and 38.1 %(8/21) respectively, and there was no significant difference (P> 0.05). All patients had slight adverse reactions, and the adverse reaction rate was 42.9 % (9/21) and 38.1 % (8/21), and there was no significant difference (P>0.05). The content of TET2 mRNA and DNMT3A mRNA after treatment in both groups were decreased compared with the expressions before treatment, and there were significant differences (P<0.05). However, there was no significant difference between the two groups after treatment (P> 0.05); the content of ASXL1 mRNA had no obvious change in the control group and a dramatic decrease in the experimental group compared with that before treatment (P<0.05). Conclusion Sodium valproate combined with decitabine has favorable effects and mild adverse reactions for treatment of MDS, besides, it can influence the expressions of TET2, DNMT3A and ASXL1.

Objective To investigate the expression of DNA methyltransferase (DNMT) in HL-60 cells induced by tetrandrine (Tet).Methods HL-60 cells were treated with different concentrations of Tet and decitabine (DAC) alone and in combination with both.Methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) assay was used to assess cytotoxic effect.Flow cytometry (FCM) was used to determine apoptosis rate.Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay was used to quantify mRNA levels of DNMT.Western blot was used to quantify the expression of DNMT protein.Results Tet inhibited the growth and proliferation of HL-60 cells in a time-and dose-dependent manners (both P ＜0.01).Tet treated HL-60 cells after 48 h at the concentration of 2 μmol/L,and 4 μmol/L,the levels of DNMT gene and protein in the drug administration group decreased compared to the control group.After incubation for 48 h with Tet 2 μmol/L combined with DAC 4 μmol/L,the combination group was significantly depressed.Conclusions Tet could potently inhibit the growth and proliferation of HL-60 cells,reduce the expression levels of DNMT mRNA and protein,and have a more obvious effect in the combination group.